• A ketogenic diet supplement has been found to boost the function of 'CAR T' cells, a personalized cancer treatment.
• The study showed improved tumor control and survival in mice on a ketogenic diet.
• The researchers theorize that CAR T cells prefer beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a metabolite produced by the liver in response to a ketogenic diet, as a fuel source.
• This approach, which is relatively cheap and has low toxicity potential, could enhance the anti-cancer effect of traditional treatments.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center have discovered that a simple dietary supplement in a ketogenic diet can boost the function of 'CAR T' cells. This personalized treatment reprograms patients' immune cells to combat cancer. The study, led by co-authors Shan Liu, a postdoctoral fellow, and Puneeth Guruprasad, a medical student, tested the effect of various diets on CAR T cell's tumor-fighting capabilities using a mouse model of diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma. The results showed improved tumor control and survival in mice receiving a ketogenic diet compared to all other diets.

The researchers found that higher levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a metabolite produced by the liver in response to a ketogenic diet, was a key mediator of this effect. Guruprasad explained, "Our theory is that CAR T cells prefer BHB as a fuel source rather than standard sugars in our body, such as glucose. So, increasing the levels of BHB in the body gives the CAR T cells more power to take out the cancer cells." This theory is currently being tested in a Phase I clinical trial at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center.

Ketogenic Diet Supplement: A Potential Game-Changer in Cancer Treatment

Maayan Levy, PhD, an assistant professor of Microbiology, highlighted the potential benefits of this approach, stating, "We're talking about an intervention that is relatively cheap and has low toxicity potential. If the clinical trial data pans out, I'm excited to think about how a fairly simple approach like this could be combined with dietary interventions or other, more traditional approaches, to enhance the anti-cancer effect."

This research comes at a time when the medical community is actively seeking innovative and cost-effective strategies to improve cancer treatment. The use of CAR T cell therapy has successfully treated thousands of patients with blood cancers, but it doesn't work for everyone. The potential of a ketogenic diet supplement to enhance the function of CAR T cells offers a promising avenue for future research and clinical trials.

Other Relevant News

In related news, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a 61% reduction in the risk of B-ALL relapse or death for children who received both chemotherapy and blinatumomab, an immunotherapy used for children with relapsed B-ALL. This is changing the standard of care for children with B-ALL around the world," Gupta added. Unlike chemotherapy, immunotherapies like blinatumomab use the body's own immune system to fight cancer by teaching the immune system to target cancer cells.

In other news, the government has invited public comments on proposed rules for clinical electrical thermometers to measure human and animal body temperatures without errors and ensure uniformity. The proposed rules aim to foster trust in their measurements, ensuring that diagnosis and treatment decisions are based on reliable data. This initiative is a significant step toward strengthening consumer safety and promoting uniformity in the measurement of body temperature.